For many of us, the name Susan Sarandon immediately evokes feelings of fondness. Across her incredible half a century long career, the legendary actress has time and time again captivated audiences around the world.
Susan Sarandon poses for a portrait in 1982 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
But there’s more to Sarandon than her knack for versatility in the characters she plays, such as Louise in the trailblazing film, Thelma and Louise to Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking.
Sarandon is also known for frequently speaking out for women everywhere struggling with endometriosis, a disease she herself suffered from for a very long time and which complicated her chances of becoming pregnant. But it is perhaps more than anything in her own private life, as a mother, that she is the most dedicated of all.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Due in part to her physical ailment, Sarandon did not become a mother until reaching age 39 – but then proceeded to have two additional children. The actress has long stood out for her decision to keep trying to have children despite her age. Indeed, with every new child born, she made headlines due to her ‘unusual’ choice of launching her ‘mommy career’ ‘so late’ in life.
A Thriving Career
Born Susan Abigail Tomalin in 1946, Sarandon adopted her first husbands’s name Chris Sarandon as her stage name. Today aged 75, she has devoted a large part of her life to her career as an actress, but is also a familiar face when it comes to fighting for important causes.
Sarandon’s film career began with her starring in the 1970 dramatic feature film, Joe. She then dabbled in soap opera roles, in particular as Patrice Kahlman in A World Apart. Five years later in 1975 and aged only 29-years-old, she reached fame after appearing in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
© Joe / Cannon Productions and co-producers, © Susan Sarandon / Twitter
Less than 10 years later in 1984, she had an Oscar nomination under her belt (Atlantic City, 1980) as well as over 25 roles on both the big and small screen.
But while her professional life was thriving, her private life was more complicated. It was while in her relationship with Italian director Franco Amurri that she discovered that becoming a mother wouldn’t be as simple as expected.
One cause in particular was her endometriosis. The disease, among other reasons, prevented her from starting her own family sooner in life.
A Journey Riddled with Pain
Sarandon had been experiencing several physical symptoms but it wasn’t before she was in her 40s that doctors could finally give her the clear diagnosis. The benign disease causes the remains of the internal part of the uterus flakes off during each menstruation and causes bleeding and invading other organs, such as the rectum, bladder, or ovaries.
Not only did the disease cause pain in various parts of the body, the shattering diagnosis made it clear that Sarandon could find it more difficult to conceive, and to make matters worse, it increased her chances for serious pregnancy complications. Pregnant women with the condition are considered high risk.
Despite all this, Sarandon became pregnant at the mature age of 39.
“Don’t have the baby,” and “It will ruin your career,” many around her said.
But Sarandon ignored that advice and embraced the tremendous blessing that was her pregnancy, soon giving birth to her very first daughter, Eva Amurri. Eva has since followed in her mother’s footsteps and is today an actress and content creator.
Leave a Reply